Who painted A Dromedary?

A Dromedary was painted by Georg Mattheus in 1562.

Where can I see A Dromedary?

A Dromedary is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A Dromedary?

A Dromedary is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of A Dromedary?

Museum-quality prints of A Dromedary are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A Dromedary

Georg Mattheus , 1562

A Dromedary is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Georg Mattheus. It dates from 1562 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:below image: DROMADAIRE FAICT APRES LE NATVREL ALION PAR GEORGE MATHIEV; on verso, at bottom left, in graphite: N P. 8 p. 312 Mattheus?; at bottom right, in graphite: 16129 / Y3P (?); at bottom right, in red ink: 88901

About this work

Overview

Georg Mattheus produced a woodcut titled A Dromedary in 1562. Executed on laid paper, the print depicts a single‑humped camel set against a barren, rocky landscape, with a rider in armor and two smaller figures beneath its belly. The scene is framed by a sky dotted with fluffy clouds and scattered vegetation.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a dromedary, a camel species adapted to desert travel, emphasizing its prominent hump and sturdy limbs. An armored rider, grasping a staff, suggests a martial or exploratory context, while the two diminutive figures crouched under the animal’s belly may convey subservience or assistance in a harsh environment.

Technique & Style

Mattheus employed the traditional woodcut process, carving the design into a block of wood to produce bold, crisp lines and a textured surface. The print’s contrast between the deep black of the carved areas and the white of the laid paper highlights the rugged terrain and the detailed rendering of the camel’s anatomy.

History & Provenance

The work bears the inscription Dromadaire, faict apres le naturel, indicating the artist’s intent to render the animal faithfully from observation. Created in the mid‑16th century, the print reflects the period’s growing interest in naturalistic representation and the expanding European knowledge of exotic fauna.

Context

During the Renaissance, prints served both as decorative objects and as means of disseminating scientific and geographic information. Mattheus’s depiction aligns with contemporary curiosity about the Middle East and North Africa, regions where dromedaries were integral to trade and travel.